a gloom and doom scenario that the pentagon says. but is it? chris lawrence has a closer look. >> reporter: to hear the pentagon tell it -- >> sequestration, therefore if it were allowed to happen, will introduce senseless chaos. >> the fiscal cliff -- >> sequestration will have a chaotic effect on the force. >> reporter: is akin to armaggedon. >> i worry about being blindsided by a huge cut because they don't have the strength or courage or guts to do what they have to do. >> happy holidays. >> reporter: the cliff would cut $500 billion in defense spending, but spread out over the next ten years. would these cuts really be that bad? >> absolutely not. >> reporter: analyst ben freeman argues the pentagon can survive on a smaller budget. >> it will drop a little bit. but not catastrophic, doomsday, any sort of hyperbole. >> reporter: perhaps the navy would have to buy less expensive, less advanced fighter jets instead of the new f-35. or the pentagon would have to cut the number of soldiers and marines back to the numbers before 9/11. >> sequest